Tongue depressor



Jan. 16, 19 8 J. A. MENDOLA TONGUE DEPRESSOR Filed May 4, 1964 INVENTOR.JOSEPH A. MENDOLA ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,363,622 TONGUEDEPRESSOR Joseph A. Mendola, 1389 E. Delavan Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 14215Filed May 4, 1964, Ser. No. 364,608 3 Claims. (Cl. 128--15) Thisinvention relates to a dental appliance and more particularly to atongue depressor for use by dentists to facilitate working in thelateral portions of oral cavities.

Tongue depressors for holding a patients tongue in a depressed or alaterally displaced position while dental work is being performed havepreviously been proposed and provided. The present invention provides anovel tongue depressor which constitutes a significant improvement overprior art devices of this general character, more particularly in theease and facility with which the appliance is introduced and secured inposition and by reason of the fact that a simple tongue depressorstructure is provided which may be employed as either a right-hand or aleft-hand tongue deflector by simple adjustment or repositioning of oneof the parts.

Furthermore, the construction of the tongue depressor of the presentinvention is such that both vertical and lateral adjustments areretained by a single thumb screw and adjusting operation is such thatthe dentist may effect either vertical or lateral adjustment of theparts or a combination of both by virtually a one hand operation.

In addition to the above, the tongue depressor of the present inventionis such that its fabrication requires a minimum number of parts; theparts are relatively smooth and rounded so that the employment of thedevice gives a maximum of comfort to the patient; and, because of thesimplicity of construction, the problem of sterilization and maintainingthe appliance in sterile condition is greatly facilitated. Also,complete disassembly of the parts is readily effected, thus furtherfacilitating convenient and thorough sterilization.

Other objects and advantages of the tongue depressor of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from aconsideration of the embodiments illustrated and described by way ofexample in the following specification.

While a single specific embodiment of the principles of the presentinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described indetail in the following specification, it is to be understood that suchembodiment is by way of example only and that various mechanicalmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, the scope of which is limited only as defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of one formof the tongue depressorof the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the inner side ofthe device with respect to its position of application to the patientsmonth.

In the drawings like characters of reference denote like parts and thenumeral designates generally a rod-like support or frame member whichmay conveniently comprise a metal tube which is bent or otherwise formedto provide an external upright portion 11 terminating at its upper endin an inverted U-shaped portion 12, one leg of which is deflected toform a generally horizontal terminal portion 13 which is adapted to bedisposed in the patients month Within the lower dental arch. Dispositionof the portion 13 in this position in the patients mouth is facilitatedby the U-shaped portion 12 which extends freely over the front portionof the lower dental arch and the lower lip of the patient, so that theportion 13 may be disposed generally at the bottom of the space withinthe lower dental arch of the patient.

The member which directly engages the tongue of the patient and holds itto one side to permit free and clear access to a lateral portion of theoral cavity for Working upon either the upper or lower dental arch isdesignated 15 and comprises a plate member which curves upwardly andinwardly to hold the tongue to one side and somewhat downwardly. Thecorners of the member 15 are preferably rounded as shown and member 15is provided along its lower edge with a longitudinal enlarge ment whichin the present instance is in the form of a curl 16 which forms acylindrical enlargement of a size adapted to fit slidably within thetubular formation comprising the horizontal extension 13 of frame 10.

Extension 13 is longitudinally slotted along its upper edge as at 17 sothat mere endwise intersliding assembly of the curl formation 16 ofmember 15 within portion 13 of frame 10 securely positions plate 15 inthe desired attitude. An important feature of the tongue depressor ofthe present invention resides in the fact that the foregoing mode ofconstructing and assembling the plate member 15 with respect to theextension 12 of frame 10 and the end to end symmetry of the plate memberrenders the same fully and freely reversible for left or righthand use.

As illustrated in the drawings the plate member 15 is positioned for usein working in the right-hand portion of the patients mouth and is thusarranged to hold the tongue downwardly and to the left in the patientsmouth. If the left-hand side of the patients mouth is the area which isto be worked upon the plate member 15 is merely reversed end for end, itbeing constructed fully symmetrically for that purpose.

Reference will now be had to positioning clamp means for retaining thetongue depressor plate 15 in desired lateral position in the patientsmouth in a readily adjustable fashion. A plate member Ztl which is bentlengthwise to form a shallow S curve is attached at one end to a collar21 which is rotatable and slidable on the upright portion 11 of framemember 10.

A single thumb screw 22 serves to retain the collar 21 in a desiredangular and elevational position on portion 11 of frame 10 and thus thevertical distance between horizontal extension 13 and clamp plate 20 andthe relative angular positions of these members about the axis ofportion 11 of frame 10 is readily selected and is fixed by a singletightening operation of thumb screw 22. With extension 13 disposed inthe patients mouth and the plate member 20 engaging beneath the patientschin a light but secure clamping force is provided for retaining thedevice in position.

Since plate 20 is normally and naturally disposed centrally beneath thechin of the patient, the position of angular adjustment of collar 21determines the relative.

lateral position of the depressor plate 15 in the patients mouth. Platemember 20 may be fixed to collar 21 by brazing, silver soldering orwelding and the assembly comprising plate 20 and collar 21 is normallyretained against endwise removal from portion 11 of frame 10 by a thumbnut 24 at the lower end of portion 11. Complete assembly of the devicemay readily be effected by removal of nut 24.

I claim:

1. In a dental tongue depressor, frame means com prising an elongatedrod-like member having an inverted U-shaped medial portion, one leg ofsaid U-shaped portion depending therefrom to extend externally below thechin of a patient, the lower end of the other leg terminating in atubular portion extending generally horizontally away from said one legand adapted to be disposed in the patients mouth, a slot along the uppersurface of said horizontally extending tubular frame portion, agenerally upright concavo-convex plate having an enlargement along itslower edge wider than said slot, said slot extending to the end of saidtubular portion for introducing said plate lengthwise therein, saidplate member engaging in assembled endwise relation with said frameportion by movement of said enlargement into said tubular portion withsaid plate member held upright by said slot, said plate member beingreversible with respect to said tubular portion to present the concavesurface thereof toward either side of the patients mouth, a generallyhorizontal plate member and means engaging the same with said dependingleg of said frame member for relative angular adjustment about the axisof said leg and for adjustment lengthwise thereof, and a singleadjustment-locking means for securing the horizontal plate and dependingleg in fixed relative positions both angularly and lengthwise of saidleg, said extending lower portion of said other leg and said horizontalplate being relatively positionable to clamp the depressor to the lowerjaw of the patient.

2. In a dental tongue depressor, frame means comprising an elongatedrod-like member having an inverted U-shaped medial portion, one leg ofsaid U-shaped portion depending therefrom to extend externally below thechin of a patient, the lower end of the other leg terminating in atubular portion extending generally horizontally away from said one legand adapted to be disposed in the patients mouth, a slot along the uppersurface of said horizontally extending tubular frame portion, agenerally upright concavo-convex plate having an enlargement along itslower edge wider than said slot, said slot extending to the end of saidtubular portion for introducing said plate lengthwise therein, saidplate member engaging in assembled endwise relation with said frameportion by movement of said enlargement into said tubular portion withsaid plate member held upright by said slot, said plate member beingreversible with respect to said tubular portion to present the concavesurface thereof toward either side of the patients mouth, a generallyhorizontal plate member and means engaging the same with said dependingleg of said frame member for 4 relative adjustment lengthwise thereof toclamp the depressor to the lower jaw of the patient.

3. In a dental tongue depressor, frame means comprising a generallyrod-like member having an inverted U-shaped medial portion having oneleg thereof depending therefrom to extend externally below the chin of apatient and the lower portion of the other leg thereof extending awayfrom said one leg and adapted to be disposed in the patients mouth, saidextending lower portion of said other leg having a channel formedlengthwise therein and extending to the end thereof, a generally uprightconcavo-convex plate having an enlargement along its lower edge, saidenlargement engaging in said channel by relative longitudinal slidingmovement to support said plate for holding a patients tongue away from aside of the patients mouth, said plate being symmetrical fore and aftwhereby it is reversible with respect to said lower leg portion topresent the concave surface thereof toward either side of the patientsmouth, a generally horizontal plate member and means engaging the samewith said depending leg of said frame member for relative angularadjustment about the axis of said leg and for adjustment lengthwisethereof, and a single adjustment locking means for securing thehorizontal plate and depending leg in fixed relative positions bothangularly and lengthwise, said extending lower leg portion and saidhorizontal plate being relatively positionable to clamp the depressor tothe lower jaw of the patient.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 342,042 5/1886 Rowney 32-33374,122 11/1887 Genese 12815 2,603,870 7/1952 Nordin 32-33 FOREIGNPATENTS 743,838 1/1933 France.

DALTON L. TRULUCK, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A DENTAL TONGUE DEPRESSOR, FRAME MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATEDROD-LIKE MEMBER HAVING AN INVERTED U-SHAPED MEDIAL PORTION, ONE LEG OFSAID U-SHAPED PORTION DEPENDING THEREFROM TO EXTEND EXTERNALLY BELOW THECHIN OF A PATIENT, THE LOWER END OF THE OTHER LEG TERMINATING IN ATUBULAR PORTION EXTENDING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY AWAY FROM SAID ONE LEGAND ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN THE PATIENT''S MOUTH, A SLOT ALONG THEUPPER SURFACE OF SAID HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING TUBULAR FRAME PORTION, AGENERALLY UPRIGHT CONCAVO-CONVEX PLATE HAVING AN ENLARGEMENT ALONG ITSLOWER EDGE WIDER THAN SAID SLOT, SAID SLOT EXTENDING TO THE END OF SAIDTUBULAR PORTION FOR INTRODUCING SAID PLATE LENGTHWISE THEREIN, SAIDPLATE MEMBER ENGAGING IN ASSEMBLED ENDWISE RELATION WITH SAID FRAMEPORTION BY MOVEMENT OF SAID ENLARGEMENT INTO SAID TUBULAR PORTION WITHSAID PLATE MEMBER HELD UPRIGHT BY SAID SLOT, SAID PLATE MEMBER BEINGREVERSIBLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID TUBULAR PORTION TO PRESENT THE CONCAVESURFACE THEREOF TOWARD EITHER SIDE OF THE PATIENT''S MOUTH, A GENERALLYHORIZONTAL PLATE MEMBER AND MEANS ENGAGING THE SAME WITH SAID DEPENDINGLEG OF SAID FRAME MEMBER FOR RELATIVE ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT ABOUT THE AXISOF SAID LEG AND FOR ADJUSTMENT LENGTHWISE THEREOF, AND A SINGLEADJUSTMENT-LOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING THE HORIZONTAL PLATE AND DEPENDINGLEG IN FIXED RELATIVE POSITIONS BOTH ANGULARLY AND LENGTHWISE OF SAIDLEG, SAID EXTENDING LOWER PORTION OF SAID OTHER LEG AND SAID HORIZONTALPLATE BEING RELATIVELY POSITIONABLE TO CLAMP THE DEPRESSOR TO THE LOWERJAW OF THE PATIENT.